Browns matchup: 49ers tight end George Kittle goes from blocker to key offensive weapon
By
George Thomas
Beacon Journal/Ohio.com
Posted Oct 5, 2019 at 4:08 PM
College production doesn’t always translate to the NFL.
In the case of San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, that’s especially true. Kittle caught all of 48 balls in four years at Iowa, but gained a reputation for being a fierce blocker.
He still excels at the latter, but now he’s arguably one of the best tight ends in the game and a key cog in the 49ers offense. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Kittle leads the team with 17 receptions for 165 yards. He’s only in his third year, but he’s garnered tremendous respect from Browns defenders and coaches.
“He’s more of a receiving tight end. He’s kind of overall one of the best tight ends we’re going to face this year,” rookie linebacker Mack Wilson, who will likely get a good look at Kittle, said.
Not bad for a fifth-round draft choice. 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said people made assumptions about Kittle because he arrived in the NFL from Iowa and its run-centric offense.
“I think people got a little too caught up with stats just because I would like to say we developed him, but he was a freak right when he got here,” Shanahan said. “I do not know how he was available in the fifth round, but he played in a running offense so everyone thought we got a blocking tight end, which he is a blocking tight end because he can block as good as anyone, but he is also good in the passing game.”
Good might be an understatement. In 2018, Kittle set an NFL single-season record for receiving yards by a tight end, breaking a mark previously held by Kansas City Chief and Cleveland Heights native Travis Kelce. Kittle caught 88 of 136 targets for 1,377 yards, averaging 15.6 yards per catch, and scoring five TDs. His average gain per catch is down this year, but remains their leading receiver.
But there is no doubt the word is out on his skills.
“He does so much from a standpoint of they put him out at the slot and they put him out at No. 1. Very athletic. Does a great job with [yards] after the catch,” Browns defensive coordinator Steve Wilks said of Kittle. “He does a tremendous job making guys miss out in space and can take the top off. It is very difficult because he poses the elements just like a receiver once you put him out in space.”
Kittle proved to be a master of yards-after-catch last season, leading the league in that category with 870 yards. He produced six receptions of 40 yards or more and ranked first among tight ends with 20 receptions of 20 yards or more.
“The most spectacular thing about him is what he can do after he catches the football, which is how fast he is and how he can make moves being so big,” Wilson said. ”[We] just kind of have to jump on him early and kind of try to get him frustrated or something. Stay on him. We have to know where he is on the field at all times.”
Wilson said Kittle does a tremendous job balancing his receiving and blocking skills. The 49ers offense is ranked No. 4 overall in the NFL, with their run game second with an average of 175 yards per game. Kittle, who has the highest rating of any player at any position as scored by Pro Football Focus, is a main reason why.
In short, he plays the position as it should be played — and the Browns know it.
“He is one of the best tight ends in the league,” safety Damarious Randall said. “The run after catch is amazing, very athletic. Definitely one of the best guys in the league.”
George M. Thomas can be reached at
gmthomas@thebeaconjournal.com.
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Link to Story:
https://www.ohio.com/sports/2019100...tle-goes-from-blocker-to-key-offensive-weapon